A small village in the Cotswolds has become the unlikely location for a rivalry between Gloucester and Munster fans ahead of the teams' clash in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Naunton is where racehorse Robyndzone, owned by a clutch of Cherry and White supporters, is trained by Irishman Fergal O'Brien.

Gloucester and Cheltenham have been synonymous with top flight sport for more than 100 years- and they came together on the gallops here for the first time eight months ago.

Ex-Gloucester forward Simon Devereux was visiting Nigel Twiston-Davies in the village when he bumped into Munster backer O'Brien.

The former professional sportsman said he was interested in racing and asked if he might have any suitable horses for him and his brother-in-law Steven Crabb.

Point-to-point maiden winner Robyndzone didn't attract a buyer at the Goffs Spring Sale, but O'Brien saw potential and brought him back to Gloucestershire to check if he was suitable.

He passed all the tests and the East India Racing syndicate, named after pub in central London where many of the clientele work in the insurance market, was officially launched.

Several of them are friends of Devereux and Crabb, so they pitched in and joined the new venture.

Pictured with Robyndzone, the East India Racing horse

"The links to Gloucester Rugby and Gloucester generally were the main driver behind the East India Racing jockey colours, which are red and white chevrons aligned to the famous Cherry and White hoops," said Devereux.

"They have been seen in National Hunt Flat races at Cheltenham and Ascot in 2018 and the syndicate members are now looking forward to seeing the horse progress over hurdles this year."